Mechelen (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): AkzoNobel plans to cut 2,000 jobs (about 5.5% of its workforce) by the end of 2025, focusing on financial and administrative roles. CEO Greg Poux-Guillaume aims to improve efficiency and manage rising labor costs through restructuring, impacting locations like Belgium.
The global group that hired more than 35,000 people last year is making big changes that will lead to job cuts, especially in financial and administrative roles. This shows they are shifting their focus, likely to work more efficiently and lower costs. While they haven’t said how many jobs will be lost, the emphasis on these areas suggests they might be looking to automate tasks or outsource work to make things run smoother.
What changes are coming to AkzoNobel’s management structure and job Roles?
Along with job cuts, the company will simplify its management structure, which means there will be fewer management levels and some roles might be combined. This restructuring is part of a bigger plan to make the company more competitive and adaptable in a changing market. It has been said that as these changes happen, employees in the affected areas might feel uncertain about their jobs.
In a recent statement, CEO Greg Poux-Guillaume mentioned that the company wants to grow profitably by improving how it’s organized. They aim to be more flexible to handle changes in the market and to work more efficiently, which is important for dealing with uncertainties. The CEO noted that rising labor costs are a big challenge, so by reorganizing, they hope to manage these costs while still making a profit. This shows that the company is focused on steady growth and adapting to financial pressures.
According to AkzoNobel the factories chosen for cost-saving measures won’t be affected in the latest restructuring. Instead, job cuts will happen in other areas, leaving employees unsure about their positions. In Belgium, the company operates in Machelen and Vilvoorde, and any job losses there could impact the local workforce.
